Display apparatus



Dec. 31 ,I 1935.

J. E. 'rHoMPsoN 2,025,790

DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Feb, 1s, 1954 l 2 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 3l, 1935.J, E, THOMPSON 2,025,790

DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Feb. 13, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 31,1935 DISPLAY APPARATUS Joseph E. Thompson, Burlingame, Calif., assignerto Wilson Brothers, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois ApplicationFebruary 13, 1934, Serial No. 711,000

21 Claims.

The invention relates to display apparatus for indicating ordemonstrating the wearing qualities of hosiery. More particularly, thepresent invention seeks to provide an exhibiting or display device forindicating the value of reinforcements applied to hose at points whichare subject to the rubbing action of the wearers shoes. The inventionconsists in the features of improvement hereinafter set forth,illustrated in the preferred forms in the accompanying drawings andmoreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in rear elevation of the improved apparatus with partsbroken away and shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. lshowing a modication.

In the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2, two foot forms IB adapted tocarry the hose are superposed upon a platform il which preferablyconstitutes the top wall of a box-like casing. The casing has a bottomwall I2, end walls I3 and a front wall I4, and is preferably open at therear to alford access to the operating mechanism inthe casing. Ofcourse, a removable cover can be provided if desired, for closing theback of the casing. i

The foot forms are upright, face in opposite directions with the heelportions thereof adja- 351 cent the central portion of the apparatus,and the toe or ball portions of the foot forms engage the upper ends ofa pair of rock arms which project upwardly through openings I5 in theplatform I I. Each rock arm is connected by a pivot pin I6 to anupturned ear il on abracket I8 which is secured to the lower face of theplatform II with the ear II extending upwardly into the opening I5. Eachrock arm comprises a plate I9, conveniently formed of sheet metal and apin 45 29, the lower enlarged port-ions of which are xed by rivets orscrews 2| to the upper rear portion of the plate I9. The upper forwardportion of the plate engages the pivot pin IB upon which the rock arm ismounted.

For engaging the rock arms, each foot form is provided with a socket orhole extending upwardly through the ball portion of the form and intowhich the projecting pin 29 extends. Preferably, as shown, the socket orhole in the form is provided with a lining sleeve 22 within which thepin 20 fits to effect the rocking or oscillating movement of the form asthe rock arm is vibrated.

The, lower face of each foot form engages a shoulder 23 on the pin 29and, in one extreme position of the rock arm (shown at the left in 5Fig. 1), this shoulder lies substantially in the plane of the uppersurface of the platform II, and, as indicated, in this position, theball and heel portions of the form are substantially in contact or veryclosely adjacent the upper sur- 10 face of the platform. The pivot pinsI6 whereon the rock arms are mounted, are disposed slightly in front ofthe pins 2l) and slightly below the upper face of the platform. Withthis arrangement, as the rock arms i9 are oscillated between l5 theirextreme positions, (shown at the right and left in Fig. l), the ball ortoe portions of the foot form rock over the upper surface of theplatform and the heel portions rise and fall as indicated by the fulland dotted lines in Fig. l, which represent the extreme positionsbetween which the forms are oscillated. The movement of the forms thussimulates the movement of the human feet in walking.

To oscillate the rock arms, a small electric motor 24 is disposed withinthe casing and is carried upon a gear box 25 which is fixed to thebottom wall ofthe casing. The motor shaft 26 is provided with a fangovernor 2 and is connected by suitable reducing gearing 28 within thegear box toa shaft 29. A disk 36 on this shaft is provided with a crankpin 3| which is connected by links 32 to the lower ends of the plates I9of the rock arms. The operating mechanism is so arranged that, when theheel portion of` one of the foot forms is raised to its extremeposition, the heel portion of the other form is closely adjacent orsubstantially inl contact with the upper surface of the platform II.

To illustrate the wearing qualities of the hose and particularly toindicate the value of reinforcements applied to hose at points subjectto the rubbing action of the wearers shoes, rubbing elements are appliedto the forms or rather to the hose mounted on the forms. Each rubbingelement comprises a pad 33 preferably of leather and mounted on a metalplate B, the pad and plate being curved so that the pad represents aportionof the heel of a shoe. Each plate 34 is pivotally mounted on theupper end of a supporting arm 35 and these arms are pivoted at theirlower ends upon a bracket 36 which is fixed to the upper face of theplatform II. Two toggle links 3l pivotally connected by a pin 38 arealso pivoted to the arms 35 and extend up- 55 -the bracket 36 and to thepivot between the toggle links, in the form shown, by means of a linkAll.

The rubbing members or pads 33 are thus yieldingly held in engagementwith the heel portions of the forms and, as they are pivotally mountedon the pivoted supporting arms 35, they follow the outline or contour ofthe forms as the latter are oscillated. The rubbing members are thusmaintained in engagement with the forms or with hose mounted thereon andillustrate the wearing or rubbing action of shoes upon the heels of thehosiery and the value of reinforcements which may be applied to theheels as indicated at 4 I.

When viewed from the front, or when the back of the casing isclosed, theoperating mechanism and its connections with the forms are concealedfrom View. Where the opening in the form through which the pin extendsis open at its upper end, as shown, this opening is closed when astocking is applied to the form, although, of course, an opening must beformed in the sole of the stocking through which the pin 20 extends.Concealing the actuating parts which operate the forms to simulate theoscillating movement of human feet in walking, adds to theattractiveness of the display apparatus. I'he forms are held in positionby the pins 2B and the curved rubbing pads 33, but they can be readilyremoved and replaced to apply or change the hose.

The modified apparatus shown in Fig. 4 employs a single foot form. Themechanism for operating the form is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and2. The rubbing member or pad is pivoted to the upper end of an arm 2which extends upwardly through an opening in the platform and is pivotedat its lowerend on a bracket i3 fixed to the end wall lll of the casing.A spring 4%, extending between the bracket and an offset 5 on the arm,yieldingly presses the rubbing member against the heel of the foot form.Also, in the apparatus shown in Fig. 4, a

Y similarly mounted rubbing pad 46, shaped to simulate a portion of ashoe toe, is applied to the toe portion of the form and will serve toindicate the wearing qualities of the corresponding portion of astocking or more particularly the value 1 of a reinforcement 41 appliedto such portion.

Also, inthe apparatus shown in Fig. 4, a lamp 48 is provided toilluminate the apparatus.

It is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details set forthwithout departure 'i from the scope of the claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a display apparatus for hose, a hosesupporting foot form, vmeanspivotally mounting said foot form adjacent its ball portion, a rubbingmember for engaging the hose on the form and means for oscillating thefoot form to effect the rubbing action of said member and to simulatethe rocking movement of a foot in walking.

2. In a display apparatus, a foot form, means pivotally mounting saidfoot form adjacent its ball portion, a rubbing member, yielding meansholding the latter in position for engaging the heel portion of theform, and means for oscillating the form to move the heel portion overthe surface of the rubbing member.

3. In a display apparatus, a foot form, means pivotally mounting saidfoot form adjacent its ball portion, a rubbing member for engaging theform, means for Yoscillating the form, and a spring-pressed supportwhereon the rubbing member is movably mounted to follow the contour ofthe form as the latter is oscillated.

4. In a display apparatus, a hose-supporting foot form, a rock armengaging the form and having a pivotal axis adjacent the ball portion of5 the form, means for oscillating the rock arm, and an element forrubbing the form or the hose thereon as the form is oscillated.

5. In a display apparatus for hose, a platform,

a hose-supporting foot form, means for rocking l0 the foot form aboutits ball portion over the surface of the platform, and a member forrubbing the surface of hose on the form as the latter is rocked.

6. In a display apparatus, a platform, an up- 15 right foot form, meansfor oscillating the foot form with its ball portion substantially inrocking engagement with the surface of the platform and a rubbingelement for engaging the heel portion of the form or of a stockingmounted thereon, 20 and means yieldingly mounting said rubbing element.

7. In a display apparatus, a platform, a rock arm extending through theplatform, an upright foot form engaging the projecting upper end of therock arm, operating means below the platform engaging the lower end ofthe rock arm and a rubbing element maintained in engagement with theform or with a stocking mounted thereon, and means yieldingly mountingsaid rubbing element 8. In a display apparatus, a platform, an uprightfoot form thereon, a pivoted rock arm projecting above the platform andengaging the ball portion of the foot form, operating means for the rockarm, and a rubbing element for engaging the form.

9. In a display apparatus, a platform, an upright foot form above theplatform, a rock arm having a pivotal axis adjacent the surface of theplatform and projecting upwardly therefrom into engagement with the ballportion of the form, the latter surrounding .and substantiallyconcealing the portion of the rook arm above the platform, operatingmeans below the platform for oscillating the rock arm and a rubbingelement cooperating with the form.

l0. In a display apparatus, a platform, an upright foot form above theplatform, a rock arm having a pivotal axis adjacent the Surface of theplatform and projecting upwardly into the form to position the same withits ball portion substantially in rocking engagement with the uppersurface of the platform, operating means for oscillating the rock armand the foot form and a rubbing element cooperating with the form.

l1. In a display apparatus, a platform, an upright foot form thereon, arock arm having a pivotal axis adjacent and slightly below the surfaceof the platform and having an upwardly projecting part adjacent and inrear of its axis engaging the ball portion of the foot form, concealedmeans below the platform for oscillating the rock arm and the foot form,and one or more rubbing elements for engaging the surface of a 65stocking on the form.

12. In a display apparatus, a platform, a pair of upright foot formsdisposed Aopposite each other thereon, a pair of rock arms adjacent thesurface of the platform andhaving portions engaging the ball portions ofthe foot forms, means pivotally mounting said rock arms, means below theplatform for oscillating therrock arms to raise and lower the heelportions of the forms, and members for rubbing the heel portions of theforms or of hose mounted thereon as the forms are oscillated, saidlast-named members having common resilient means for maintaining rubbingcontact with said forms, and yielding means mounting said last-mentionedmember.

13. In a display apparatus, a casing, an upright foot form thereon, arock arm pivoted on the casing adjacent the ball portion of the footform and having a part socketed in the ball portion to rock the same andraise and lower the heel portion, means concealed in the casing foroperating the rock arm, and a member for rubbing the heel portion of theform or of a stocking thereon as the form is rocked, and yielding meansmounting said member.

14. In a display apparatus for hose, a foot form for supporting thehose, a rubbing element, means permanently and yieldingly maintainingthe latter in engagement with the outer surface of the hose on the form,and means for eifecting a relative reciprocating movement between theform and the rubbing element.

15. In a display apparatus for hose, a foot form for supporting thehose, means for oscillating the foot form and a movably mounted rubbingelement, means permanently and yieldingly maintaining the latter inengagement with the outer surface of the hose on the form as the latteris oscillated.

16. In a display apparatus for hose, the combination of a platform, a,rock arm extending through the platform and pivoted at a point adjacentthe surface thereof and having a relatively short portion projectingabove the platform, an upright foot form for supporting the hose, meansremovably mounting said form on and concealing the upper projecting endof said rock arm, concealed means below the platform for oscillating therock arm and foot form, a rubbing element, and means yieldinglymaintaining said element in engagement with the outer surface of thehose on the form as the latter is oscillated.

17. In a display apparatus for hose, a platform, an upright foot formimmediately above the platform, concealed means below the platform foroscillating the foot form with a ball portion thereof maintainedsubstantially in engagement with the surface of the platform, and

a, rubbing pad shaped tosimulate a shoe section, and means yieldinglyholding said pad in engagement with the form or with a stocking mounted5 thereon.

18. In a display apparatus, a foot form, means pivotally mounting saidform adjacent its ball portion, means for oscillating the pivotallymounted form, a rubbing element for engaging the form or a stockingmounted thereon, and a pivoted, spring-pressed support whereon therubbing member is pivotally mounted to be thereby maintained inengagement with the form and follow its co-ntour as the form isoscillated.

19. A display apparatus comprising a platform, a, pair of upright footforms arranged opposite each other upon the platform with their heelportions adjacent, means below the platform including a common controlmechanism for rocking the forms about the ball portions thereofalternately in opposite directions, and members simulating shoe sectionsfor rubbing the forms as they are rocked, and resilient means mountingsaid last-mentioned members, whereby the latter may react yieldinglyagainst each other and against said forms.

20. In a display apparatus, a foot form, means pivotally mounting saidform adjacent its ball portion, a rubbing member, means yieldinglyholding said member in position to engage an extremity of the form, andmeans for oscillating the form to move its extremity over the surface ofthe rubbing member.

21. A display apparatus comprising a platform, a pair of upright footforms arranged opposite each other upon the platform with their heelportions adjacent, means below the platform for rocking the forms aboutthe ball portions thereof alternately in opposite directions, memberssimulating shoe sections for rubbing the forms as they are rocked, andmeans mounted on said platform and yieldingly supporting said last-namedmembers, comprising oppositely disposed pivoted members and a togglejoint with common resilient means.

JOSEPH E. THOMPSON.

